Review of Epstein–Barr virus and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder post-solid organ transplantation (Review Article)

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) are lymphoid or plasmacytic proliferations ranging from polyclonal reactive proliferations to overt lymphomas that develop as consequence of immunosuppression in recipients of solid organ transplantation (SOT) or allogeneic bone marrow/hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Immunosuppression and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection are known risk factors for PTLD. Patients with documented histopathologic diagnosis of primary PTLD at our institution between January 2000 and October 2019 were studied. Sixty-six patients with PTLD following SOT were followed for a median of 9.0 years. The overall median time from transplant to PTLD diagnosis was 5.5 years, with infant transplants showing the longest time to diagnosis at 12.0 years, compared to pediatric and adolescent transplants at 4.0 years and adult transplants at 4.5 years. The median overall survival (OS) was 19.0 years. In the monomorphic diffuse large B-cell (M-DLBCL-PTLD) subtype, median OS was 10.7 years, while median OS for polymorphic subtype was not yet reached. There was no significant difference in OS in patients with M-DLBCL-PTLD stratified by quantitative EBV viral load over and under 100,000 copies/mL at time of diagnosis, although there was a trend towards worse prognosis in those with higher copies.

Download Full-text

EBV-negative post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder: Clinical characteristics, response to therapy, and survival.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2013.31.15_suppl.8578 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 31 (15_suppl) ◽

pp. 8578-8578

Author(s):

Daniel S. Heil ◽

Marlise Rachael Luskin ◽

Edward Allen Stadtmauer ◽

Stephen J. Schuster ◽

Donald Edward Tsai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lymphoproliferative Disorder ◽

Survival Rates ◽

Solid Organ Transplantation ◽

Organ Transplant ◽

Response Rates ◽

Response To Therapy ◽

Solid Organ ◽

Post Transplant ◽

Barr Virus ◽

Epstein Barr

8578 Background: Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a potentially life-threatening complication of solid organ transplantation. PTLD is frequently linked with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and it was suggested that EBV negativity is associated with a poor prognosis and lack of response to reduction of immunosuppression (RI). We conducted a case-control study to identify the characteristics, outcome and response to therapy of EBVpos and EBVneg PTLD over a 20-year period. Methods: We reviewed data on patients diagnosed with PTLD at U. Penn. between 1982 and 2012. We determined EBV positivity on tumor samples according to WHO criteria. We compared clinical and pathologic characteristics, response to therapy, and survival of EBVpos and EBVneg patients. Results: Of 222 patients diagnosed with PTLD, we verified the EBV status of 169 patients, of whom 35% were EBVneg and 65% were EBVpos. Mean follow-up was 46.7 months. Median time from transplant to PTLD was 23.1 mo. in EBVpos vs. 59.3 mo. in EBVneg (p=0.003) with 42% of EBVpos patients being diagnosed within the first year after transplant vs. 15% in the EBVneg group (p<0.001). EBVneg PTLD was more likely to occur in non-thoracic vs. thoracic transplants (p=0.006). 28% of patients with EBVpos PTLD presented with disease originating from the graft vs. 14% in the EBVneg group (p=0.03). In terms of histology, 36% of EBVpos patients had polymorphic PTLD vs. 7% of EBVneg patients (p<0.001). Of patients who were treated with RI alone (40% of patients in both groups), the overall response rates were 50% and 48% in EBVpos and EBVneg patients respectively (p=NS). Response rates to rituximab were also similar. There was no difference in the mortality risk between groups (HR=1.04; p=0.84). The 5-year survival rates were 47% and 51% in EBVpos and EBVneg PTLD respectively (p=NS). Conclusions: In a large single-center series, EBVneg PTLD was associated with late occurrence after transplant, monomorphic histology and similar outcome in comparison with EBVpos PTLD. Importantly, the response of EBVneg PTLD to RI and rituximab was no different than EBVpos PTLD. These results have implications for the management of solid organ transplant recipients with PTLD.

Download Full-text